Dear !*TITLE*! !*LASTNAME*!,
Our Diet Tour and lunch with Marutei Tsurunen on 22 February has attracted a lot of interest so we are more or less fully booked but if you have not yet signed up and interested to join, please sign up soon. Note that at this point we can accept members only.
Read more below.
The date for our Annual General Assembly at the Embassy of Finland has now been fixed, Wednesday, 3 April, starting at 17:00. More in my next bulletin.
This week we also have a new contribution from our Japan veteran in Finnish business in his column Aoyama View, this time titled "Update on Abenomics, Japan's Powerful Ladies".
Click banner at right for an interesting read!

Friday, 22 February - FCCJ Special Event
Tour of the Diet and Lunch with Marutei Tsurunen
In February we have a rather exclusive event, a visit and tour of the Japanese Parliament (Diet), including a lunch with Mr. Marutei Tsurunen, Member of the House of Counsillors
We will first have a lunch at the Councillors office building where Mr. Tsurunen will brief us on the parliament and current issues. After the lunch we will have the tour of the Diet which takes about 60 minutes.
Note that we will meet up at 11:45 in the lobby of the Diet members' building (Giin-kaikan), see map.

Please note that we will collect the fee at the venue and provide you with a receipt. Late cancellations and no-shows will be invoiced.
If you would like to attend, please click link at right. Note that we are almost fully booked, so sign up soon!
To check who has already registered, click here.

Webinars on the Executive Training Programme to Japan and Korea
All those interested in learning more about the EU-funded Executive Training Programme (ETP) are invited to join webinars organised by the ETP team in French, German and English.
Register now to learn more about this prestigious Asia-based action learning programme, designed to provide the EU managers and their companies with the latest insights into the Japanese and Korean economies, languages and business cultures, as well as support for the development of their business plans. You will also hear testimonials from ETP graduates and discover trade opportunities in Asia.
When and how to attend?

If you cannot join a webinar at the scheduled time, register for the event and you will receive a recording and copy of the slides via email following the webinar.
Please feel free to forward this information to anyone who may be interested.
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the ETP team at info@euetp.eu
The EBC is pleased to serve as an information and consultation desk for potential applicants in Japan. Please do not hesitate to contact:
Ms. Alison Murray: Tel: 03-3263-6225; E-mail: ebcam@gol.com

Monday, 4 March - International House of Japan Artist's Forum Film ScreeningJAPAN PREMIERE - Live Your Dream -- The Taylor Anderson StoryStories of courage and sacrifice during the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

Date & Time:

Monday, 4 March, 17:00 (length of film 85 min.)

Place:

International House of Japan, Lecture Hall,5-11-16, Roppongi, Minato-ku [MAP]

Director:

Regge Life (US-Japan Creative Artist 1989)

Cost:

free, but registration required

Language:

English (with Japanese subtitles, with consecutive interpretation)

Like the many adventurous youth who travel the world to bridge cultures and make a difference, Taylor Anderson was an enthusiastic American who showed a lifelong interest in Japan and came to teach Japanese children on the JET Program in Ishinomaki. Taylor was living her dream when the March 11, 2011 tsunami tragically ended her young life. Through interviews with her friends and family, this film traces her life in Japan and the dedication she held toward her host culture and its people. Director Regge Life will introduce and comment on the film.
For more information and registration, click link at right.

News from FinlandBusiness lobby: Cut corporate taxes to 15 percent
The Confederation of Finnish Industries EK says there is no need to hike taxes on corporations and capital income, nor should government adopt a so-called windfall tax. Instead the private sector representative wants government to slash corporate taxes.
The Confederation of Finnish Industry the EK wants government to axe corporate taxes down to 15 percent from the current 24.5 percent.
The EK called on the government to make the decision to cut business taxes during its mid-term revision at the end of this month.
The organisation also said that capital income should not be subjected to higher taxation, nor should government adopt a windfall tax, which would see energy companies surrender part of their profits from emissions trading.
The private sector business lobby believes that only a significant reduction of corporate taxes would accelerate economic growth and create jobs.
It reiterated its call for conservative wage policies and more flexibility in labour market agreements.
Economic Affairs Minister: Reform corporate tax regime
On Monday Economic Affairs Minister Jan Vapaavuori called for a radical reform of Finland's corporate tax regime.
The Minister said the central goal of tax reform would be to stimulate growth and job creation.
He noted that the current taxation system does not sufficiently encourage investment.
He called on the government to send a clear message that industrial investment enjoys special protection from the government.

Grin of the WeekDesperate sales pitch
Despite his best sales pitch, a life-insurance salesman
was unable to get a couple to sign up for a policy.
"I certainly don't want to frighten you into a decision,"
he announced, standing up to leave ...
"Please sleep on it tonight, and if you wake up in the
morning, let me know what you think."

If you have any comments, rumors, gossip or inside information, send it to: fccj@gol.com

ABOUT THIS BULLETIN
This bulletin is
published by the Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan (FCCJ) and
distributed to over 650 recipients among its members and related
organizations. FCCJ was established in April 1999 to promote trade and
economic exchange between Japan and Finland and has today 64 corporate
members, 12 individual and one special member.